The top country in each group at the end of the stage progressed to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, with the two runners-up facing each other in a play-off. The winner of this play-off went on to compete for a place in the World Cup in the UEFA–AFC inter-confederation play-off.[1]
Note: This match was originally scheduled for 13 October 2001 and started normally, but was interrupted at 25 minutes with Bahrain leading 1–0 due to an electrical fire at Rajamangala Stadium.[3][4]